Jan 29 - Lance Berkman announces his retirement after 15 big league seasons, 11 of those (1999-2010) with the Astros, where he became one of the top hitters in club history.

Mar 22 - In one of the most regretted releases in team history, the Astros waive outfielder J.D. Martinez after a slow spring. Claimed by Detroit, Martinez responds with a .296 average and 61 homers over the next two seasons, which included an All-Star appearance.

May 26 - Rookie George Springer explodes for four hits and five runs scored in a 9-2 thrashing at Kansas City. His night includes his fourth homer in three games. The win is part of a seven-game streak that injects some life after a 17-32 start to the season.

Jun 03 - Jonathan Singleton, a key component in the trade of Hunter Pence, homers in his big league debut, a 7-2, drubbing of the Angels. He would total 13 for his rookie season but bat .168. Unfortunately, he failed to adjust to big league pitching and would not be the star many had projected.

Jun 29 - Jose Altuve smacks three hits and steals two bases in a 6-4 victory against Detroit. Matt Dominguez and Carlos Corporan also contribute three hits apiece. Altuve becomes the first big leaguer to swipe more than one base in four consecutive games since the ill-fated Ray Chapman did it in 1917.

Aug 30 - Scott Feldman tosses a complete-game three-hitter to blank the Rangers, 2-0. The win secures a Lone Star Series victory over Arlington for the first time since 2006. Carlos Corporan and Jake Marisnick drive home runs in the seventh for the game's only tallies.

Sep 01 - Bo Porter is dismissed as manager of the Astros as internal dissension over personnel moves comes to a boil. Tom Lawless is named the interim manager. Despite a 110-190 record (.367) in less than two years, Porter had seen his club win more in five months of 2014 than they had the entire 2013 campaign.

Sep 29 - Jose Altuve spanks a double and single in an 8-3 loss to the Mets to finish with 225 hits, smashing Craig Biggio's club record. Altuve's .341 batting average wins the American League title. Houston finishes 70-92, their best record since 2010 and their first without 100 losses in four years.

Nov 05 - Astros deal pitcher Nick Tropeano and catcher Carlos Perez to the Angels for catcher Hyun Choi "Hank" Conger. The switch-hitting backstop batted .229 with 11 homers in his one season with Houston.

Nov 06 - ROOT Sports Houston, jointly owned by AT&T and DirecTV, is given the green light by a local judge to take over programming from failing Comcast SportsNet Houston which had countersued the Astros and the Houston Rockets.

Dec 15 - Houston inks infielder Jed Lowrie to a three-year free agent deal. It's his second time with the ballclub but it doesn't last long. Injuries cause the Astros to rush top prospect Carlos Correa to the majors so Lowrie was traded back to Oakland the following winter.